Amity advances to Class LL softball final

Jennifer Hoffer

Updated 12:02 am, Wednesday, June 11, 2014

WEST HAVEN -- While it had trouble with runners in scoring position throughout the game, the wait paid off as Amity pitcher Katie Koshes laid down a bunt scoring Heather Watt from third and giving the Spartans a 2-1 win over South Windsor Tuesday, punching their ticket to the Class LL softball championship.

The Spartans (22-5) will play either Friday or Saturday in the final.

Koshes said she knew she had to get the ball down perfectly and just run.

"I had a bunt a few innings before that one, so I knew I just had to get it down and get the run in," Koshes said.

It was a game of pitching for both sides as Koshes pitched seven innings, striking out 16 and walking four. South Windsor pitcher Peyton Silverman pitched a strong seven innings, racking up seven strikeouts.

Koshes did what she normally does on the mound, and said all her pitches were working and her defense did a great job behind her.

Amity coach Loren Vorrase-Purcell said that Koshes threw a fantastic game, and she could tell she had her stuff going because she had a lot of pop-ups.

"She moved the ball inside and out, up and down," Vorrase-Purcell said. "She had great control. She had great command of all of her pitches today. And at the plate, I really can't complain. She laid down two perfect bunts and helped us advance."

Mandy Roczniak, head coach for South Windsor said that the bunt was just perfectly executed.

"That was a perfect bunt," Roczniak said. "Our third baseman is very, very quick. If that ball's a foot out further, she makes that play and makes it look like routine."

The Spartans have come back strong in the state tournament after losing in the SCC championship game against Mercy, a game where Vorrase-Purcell said base-running mistakes hurt. Tuesday, she said, it was the opposite as the baserunning was excellent.

What frustrated the team and Vorrase-Purcell was leaving runners on base.

"I said at one point I think I had a heart attack in the dugout, I think it was around the fifth inning or something," Vorrase-Purcell said. "We should not be leaving runners on third base like that. The girls know it, too. So it was a little frustrating for them. But the key was we stayed in it, and executed when we absolutely needed to."

For Koshes, she said, advancing to the championship is great for the team because they have really pushed through every single game.

"We had a really tough schedule this year," Koshes said. "So I think we've played hard and proved ourselves."